“Business as usual will not do as a way to conduct this campaign. This election for me has always been about focusing on the issues and unseating Michael Bennet,” she said.

State GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams said he won’t allow Norton to participate in the Republican state assembly on May 22, where more than 3,500 people will gather to vote for candidates running in local and statewide offices, unless she puts her name up for nomination there.

“Any candidates for statewide office who forgo the caucus assembly process will not be allowed to speak,” Wadhams said. “They will not be allowed to have banners or signs or literature at the state convention. If the convention is not good enough to participate in, it’s not good enough for them to have a presence. That’s their decision.”

Wadhams said he would allow Norton to participate in the state assembly if she agrees to have her name among the other candidates for nomination. It takes at least 30 percent of the vote to make the ballot. The top vote-getter at the state assembly will get their name placed above the others on the ballot.

“This is not a decision I have made lightly. I have participated in our precinct and convention process my whole life, and I remain respectful of these institutions,” she said in a statement. “I admire the enthusiasm of the many party leaders who devote their efforts to promoting participation.”

Both Buck and Norton are canvassing the state trying to woo grassroots groups. Norton raised $816,000 in the first quarter of this year. Buck hasn’t reported his numbers yet, but will be required to disclose fundraising by the end of this week.

To make it onto the ballot via petition, Norton will have to collect 1,500 signatures from registered Republicans in each of the seven Congressional districts.

Splendid!!! Now if Bennet would drop his foolishness and accept primary defeat like Norton obviously can't. Then the best in the field = Romanoff will be our Senator…

RU Kidding me?

Another pathetic politician. Have the courage of your convictions and say that you don't support the caucus process and that it should be eliminated. Don't say that it has been a difficult decision since you participated in the process your “whole life”… up until it effected you personally. If you can't tell it like it is when you are running for office, you have no chance of being the type of leader the people are searching for and you will not be able to fool a much wiser electorate than has been faced in the past.Politics as usual, and the politicians that practice them, will not be rewarded by the party faithful any longer.

doughubka

Although Norton is leading in the (Rasmussen) Polls , this move makes it seem that her own party will not nominate her. So, who is she kidding . Helping Swift Meat packing with their hiring practices probably doesn't sit well with the party faithful.

More of the same.

Norton should ask RNC chair Steele to a stri club….she'll be on the ballot for sure. A lap dance may help her, too.

donaldeljohnson

The Republicans and Democrats should cancel their wasteful and irrelevant state conventions. Norton, Wiens and Bennet are challenging Buck and Romanoff to come up with the money needed to run effective primary campaigns. Unless he comes up with a lot of new contributions and is supported by more secretive 527s, Buck probably will have to drop out. If that happens, I think Norton will humiliate and destroy Wiens. Bennet will do the same to Romanoff.

Harry

She loses the caucuses. She fears she won't get 30% at the assembly to make it to the primary so she pays to go the petition route. That is who you call the “frontrunner”? That is who you say “after August’s primary, she will face either Sen. Bennet or former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff”?Seems to me she is not going to be facing anyone after August's primary because only the winner goes on.

Joe Elector

REPUBLOCRATS [Bennett & Jane-McCain-Norton] should do the Environmentally friendly thing and spare the CARBON expense of a wasted campaign.

peterpi

I think Hell just froze over — I agree with something Richard (I'm taking the safe route here, rather than risk the wrath of the Mindless Computer Censor) Wadhams. Jane Norton is a chicken. So is Michael Bennett. Why bother with the party process, why bother talking to the party faithful, if you can just waltz onto the ballot by hiring peons to collect signatures for you? No grubby talking to people, no grubby dealing with the low-life minions. Just collect some signatures, et voila! you are in.I don't like the Tea Partiers, but by golly, they're trying to use the system.This is looking like 2006 all over again when both the Democratic and Republican parties had someone running for governor in the caucuses and assemblies who were firing up the base, who were energetic, who were closer to the parties' ideals — and the parties' Golden Boys were simply coronated.Colorado has this “sore loser” system where someone who can't hack the regular party procedures can simply gather a few signatures and be in the primaries anyway. Maybe it's time to drop the cauceses and assemblies — even though they greatly benefit the parties through rallying the troops, setting agendas, bringing coherence to the parties — and go straight to a primary process.

Snuffy

A couple of points:Apparently it doesn't matter if she gets the signatures or goes to the convention, the Post has decided she will win – “After August’s primary, she will face either Sen. Bennet or former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.”and – Senator Bennet did not make the same decision a few weeks ago, he is going to the convention and gathering signatures. There is a difference. And Bennet is allowed to go to the convention. I guess Wadhams big tent is only big enough for those who follow his rules.

Statedelegate

As a delegate to the State Assembly, she has totally lost all of my respect and support for her run for the Senate.

jharkness

Norton is as corrupt as Musgrave – Colorado can't afford any more mistakes and she would be a disaster.

michaelniland

GO JANE GO!GO JANE GO!GO JANE GO!

sharon

Norton: go to the convension and accept the will of the people. If you make it on the primary ballot, good for you, otherwise bow out gracefully.

shari

You're confusing the Nortons…Jane never had anything to do with the meatpacking industry in Greeley. That was Kay Norton who is now the president of UNC who served as counsel for ConAgra. You might want to check your facts first next time before you decide to throw out the smack or at least know who you're “not” voting for. ; )

Guest

Romanoff went lockstep in creating the current disaster, Bennet is the fresh face and not repeat NOT a career weasel like Norton or Romanoff whose only agenda are self serving

lissmth

I've lost all respect for Norton. The minute things got uncomfortable, she dropped the party faithful like we're dirty garbage.

doughubka

Dear unregistered Shari. Thank you for pointing out my bit of confusion here. The Norton clan is so ubiquitous here in Colorado, it is hard to tell them apart. At last count we had a Norton running CDOT, A US Attorney Norton , a Reagan Sec,of Interior Norton and the Norton that ended funding for planned parenthood womans health intiatives. I think sinking Planned Parenthood got Jane the Lt. Gov. job from Owens.

Jake

As a state assembly delegate Norton has just cemented her defeat at the assembly and very likely at the primary as well. I feel that she thinks we are expedable and not important in her overall campaign. Everyone should now donate to and help welcome Senator Buck.

colawman

Okay let me get this analysis right! By Jane Norton recognizing she was failing to attract 30 percent of the Republican delegates (Which were elected by 25000 registered participants at caucuses) chose to drop out to avoid embarassment. That equals Ken Buck dropping out of the race before the primary. Are you the person advising her on campaign strategy? No wonder she spent 1.3 million dollars with no return on her investment. Buck spent 1/10 of that and was able to get both Wiens and Norton to scream uncle and drop out of the assembly process they had pledged to abide by in the fall of 2009.

FatherRussell

Spill Baby Spill – Opposes President Obama's stimulus package (Can you just imagine what it would be like NOW with no General Motors, NO Bank of America, NO CitiGroup, NO Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, NO Goldman Sachs), …great grandstanding, but the reality of it would be long bread lines and soup kitchens everywhere due the greedy &reckless behavior by the REPUBLICANS that created the Great GOP Recession of 2007 in the first place!Yeah…I'm with ya, just let business regulate itself. We have all observed what a stellar moment the past 3 years have been for the American people who have lost their jobs, their homes, their life savings at the expense of all the executives who got multi-million dollar bonuses. Right on – you are so business savvy!!! Opposes earmarks – NO money for Colorado… But the grandstanding headline is just great isn't it?Supports pro-life causes – so build more prisons to house those (privatize of course with NO bid contracts), that do NOT conform to your 'just-say-no' or religious beliefs, just like a third world country – just as our forefathers would have wantedAgainst same sex marriage – you can not love… only manipulateAgainst gun control – but you should kill

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.